Careers and Training

RACHP Engineering Technician Apprenticeships

Links to new guidance for Trainers, Employers and Apprentices on changes due to COVID-19 restrictions is available from the Institute of Refrigeration website https://ior.org.uk/resources-for-trainers

The RACHP Engineering Technician Apprenticeship scheme is approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships as a Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standard with Government funding available. An Employers Group and the Institute of Refrigeration have worked to prepare the Standard and Assessment Plan to help end point assessment organisations (City & Guilds and BESA Training) to develop materials to support the delivery of off the job training by Colleges and Centres.

Listen to John Austin-Davies chairman of the Trailblazer employers' group talk about how the programme was developed in this webinar: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/2131765421914770691 

How the Trailblazer Apprenticeship works

All funded apprentices must spend 20% of their time in off-the-job training.  The employer decides what form this should take, for example they may decided to follow qualification programmes designed to align to the new trailblazer end point examination. Apprentices must record specified evidence of their work based learning in a Journal.  Towards the end of their work based and off-the-job training, the employer decides if the apprentice is ready to take their End Point Exam. They must have achieved an F Gas  Certificate and English/Maths at Level 2.  The apprentice then prepares for their end point by submitting a synopsis of their work based learning in a Journal. This will be the basis of an in depth interview with an independent assessor. In addition the apprentice has to sit a multiple choice knowledge exam and a 2-3 day documented practical test. The end point exams can be taken at the same college where they have done their off-the-job learning, but the assessor must be independent of the college, employer and apprentice.  The final apprenticeship will be graded pass, merit or in exceptional cases, distinction.

How long is the apprenticeship?

The whole programme is designed to last 3 years, but with more experienced apprentices or those who have previously completed qualifications from earlier programmes, the Government funding rules state that a minimum of 1 year is possible. This would include time to prepare their Journal of work placed evidence, 20% of their time in off-the-job training to get their knowledge to the required standard and schedule their end point exams.

How do I register for the Engineering Technician Apprenticeship?

Please contact your  training provider to make sure that they have registered to deliver the trailblazer apprenticeship and registered with one of the Independent Assessment Organisations who can organise an End Point Exam.  Employers may be are eligible for Government funding to cover 90% of the cost of training provision.

Useful links

Summary of differences for employers between old "framework" apprenticeships and new Trailblazer Standards

City & Guilds qualification information and handbooks for centres wanting to offer Apprenticeships 

City & Guilds overview of Apprenticeships

Employer guidance on new Apprenticeship framework from Government

Employer guidance on Apprenticeship levys and funding from Government

Institute of Refrigeration news pages on Apprenticeship developments

How to obtain an F Gas Individual Certificate

It is a legal requirement for anyone working on equipment containing or designed to contain HFC and HCFC refrigerants to hold an F Gas Certificate. Under the GB F Gas Regulations of 2014 existing individual certificates remain valid and do not require reassessment or renewal unless they were issued with an expiry date. There are three options for Individual Certification:

• City & Guilds for 2079 Level 2 F gas Certificates
• BESA accredited courses FG Cat 1 - 4
• LCL/Logic Certification 603/1917-1920 Cat 1 - 4

You can search our list of Training Centres to find a local provider of F Gas training and certification (on the right)

CITB J11 F Gas Certificates and Cards if within their validity date are also valid but CITB have now stopped offering new F Gas assessments or renewals

Certificates issued by other EU member states are also valid and must be accompanied by a translation into English. If you are not sure whether a certificate issued outside of the UK you should contact the relevant national authority for clarification.

F Gas Company Certification for employers

There are three company certification bodies available. Your company must hold a certificate if it employers technicians to carry out work on F Gas systems and wants to be able to buy F Gas refrigerant.

REFCOM

Quidos

BV

Useful links

See the Government's  F Gas Regulation pages for confirmation of the legislation requirements and how they affect you.

LCL Awards/Logic Certification https://lclawards.co.uk/qualifications/sectors/refrigeration-f-gas/

BESA Training https://www.thebesa.com/training/training-courses/refrigeration-courses/

C&G 2079 https://www.cityandguilds.com/qualifications-and-apprenticeships/building-services-industry/refrigeration-and-airconditioning/2079-f-gas-and-ods-regulations#tab=information

RACHP nationally recognised qualificiations

Qualifications are changing! The new RACHP Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Standard ("Trailblazer") is now recognised by Government as the preferred route, developed by employers, and funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.  To find out more about Apprenticeships follow the link to the right of this screen

Currently available stand-alone qualifications are shown below. Government is gradually withdrawing funding from these qualifications as they form part of the previous Apprenticeship framework. However some centres are continuing to offer these whilst awaiting more information about how the new Apprenticeship Standard will work:

At Level 2

Diploma in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems 7189-02 (City & Guilds)

NVQ Diploma in Installing, Testing and Maintaining Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems 6187-01 (City & Guilds)

NVQ Diploma in Installing and Maintaining Refrigeration Systems 6187-02 (City & Guilds)

Diploma or Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment Engineering Technology (EAL) Does not include F Gas

At Level 3

Diploma Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems 7189-03 (City & Guilds)

Certificate in Servicing and Maintaining Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Systems 6187-04 (City & Guilds)

Links to more information

Short courses and e-learning programmes are available for those currently working in the industry who want to improve or upgrade their employability and skills. Nationally recognised courses and qualifications include:

Brazing BRA Brazing Assessment, is available from City & Guiilds (6187-21) and others.

Flammables training - BESA Flammable refrigerants (classification A2L A2 and A3), LCL Awards Level 3 Award in Understanding the properties and use of flammable refrigerants in accordance with ACRIB specification (A2L, A2 and A3).

Hydrocarbon - City and Guilds 6187-21/31

Carbon dioxide - BRA Short course or LCL Awards Level 3 Award in the Installation, Commissioning and Service of Commercial CO₂ refrigeration systems

Ammonia - City and Guilds 2077 or 2078. BESA are also developing a course

REAL Zero (refrigerant leakage reduction)

REAL Alternatives (awareness for low GWP alternatives) 

To search for a local training providers offering short courses use our interactive map

In response to industry requests, ACRIB has produced a specification for the development of training courses and qualifications which cover the understand properties of and the application of all A2L, A2 and A3 class flammable refrigerants. Including RAC system installation, testing, servicing and maintenance techniques and specific requirements when using different refrigerant classifications in various applications.

ACRIB Training specification for Flammable Refrigerants

Further Guidance on assessment in accordance with the ACRIB specification

Press Release (December 2018)

Qualifications and training based on the ACRIB specification are available from

• BESA Flammable refrigerants (classification A2L A2 and A3)
• LCL Awards Level 3 Award in Understanding the properties and use of flammable refrigerants in accordance with ACRIB specification (A2L, A2 and A3)

Careers resources to support schools, careers advisers, teachers, parents and those working in the sector are available from ACRIB members.  Follow the links below to find out more:

• A video about the sector impact and careers interviews is available on youtube
• STEM ambassador programme - sign up as an ambassador or find an ambassador to give talks to young people. Read guidance from the IOR here
• STEMAZING provides training programmes aimed at raising the profile of women in engineering in schools STEMAZING academy
• Interactive fun website about refrigeration science for schools www.fantasticfridges.com 
• Competitions and events are run by the industry with prizes to reward student achievement. Find out more here.